jingo

1 of 2

interjection

jin·​go ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō 

—used as a mild oath usually in the phrase by jingo

jingo

2 of 2

noun

plural jingoes

: one characterized by jingoism

jingoish

ˈjiŋ-(ˌ)gō-ish 

adjective

Synonyms of jingo

Noun

• nationalist

Examples of jingo in a Sentence

Noun

a jingo who thought other countries should automatically follow his country's policies

the often bitter rhetoric between the jingoes and the committed pacifists

Word History

Etymology

Interjection

probably euphemism for Jesus

Noun

from the occurrence of the phrase by jingo in "Macdermott's War Song" (1877), a British music hall song that advocated an aggressive stance toward Russia during the Eastern Crisis of 1875-78

Note: The song was written by George William Hunt and performed by Gilbert Hastings Macdermott, stage name of John Farrell (1845-1901). The first two lines of the song's refrain were "We don't want to fight but by jingo if we do …We've got the ships, we've got the men, and got the money too!"

First Known Use

Interjection

1694, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jingo

• acknow
• aglow
• ago
• airglow
• aloe
• altho
• although
• ammo
• backflow
• backhoe
• banjo
• barbeau

Kids Definition

jingo

noun

jin·​go

ˈjiŋ-gō

plural jingoes

: a person who favors a warlike policy toward other countries

jingoism

-ˌiz-əm

noun

jingoistic

ˌjiŋ-gō-ˈis-tik

adjective